Healthy Michigan Plan Income Limits in Michigan (2026)

The Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP) covers approximately 700,000 adults in Michigan as part of the state's broader Medicaid enrollment of about 2.9 million residents in 2026. Michigan expanded Medicaid in April 2014 under a Section 1115 demonstration waiver, making all adults ages 19 to 64 with household income at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level eligible regardless of family structure. The 2026 Federal Poverty Level base for the 48 contiguous states is $15,960 for a single person, with an additional $5,680 per person after that. At 138% FPL, the Healthy Michigan Plan income threshold for 2026 is $22,025 for a single adult and $45,540 for a household of four. These limits are administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and verified annually using HHS ASPE poverty guidelines.

Michigan Medicaid covers five major eligibility groups under distinct income thresholds. The Healthy Michigan Plan serves non-pregnant adults ages 19 to 64 at 138% FPL. Pregnant women qualify under a separate category at 200% FPL ($66,000 for a household of four), with coverage continuing for 12 months postpartum. Children under age 19 qualify for standard Michigan Medicaid (U-19 Medicaid) at 160% FPL ($52,800 for a household of four), and Michigan's CHIP program, MIChild, extends coverage to 212% FPL for children who do not qualify for Medicaid. Aged, blind, and disabled (ABD) residents qualify under separate SSI-related rules with an asset test, and long-term care programs use a 60-month lookback period for asset transfers. All MAGI-based groups (adults, pregnant women, children) have no asset test.

Michigan Medicaid applications are submitted through MI Bridges, the state's unified online benefits portal at newmibridges.michigan.gov. MI Bridges handles applications for the Healthy Michigan Plan, standard Medicaid, CHIP (MIChild), SNAP, cash assistance, and child care in one application. Applicants may also apply by phone at 1-855-275-6424 or in person at any county MDHHS office. Standard applications are processed in 45 days; pregnancy applications are decided in 10 days under federal expedited rules; disability applications can take up to 90 days for medical determination. Looking ahead: under a new federal mandate in the 2025 reconciliation law, Michigan and other expansion states must implement work and community engagement requirements (80 hours per month) for able-bodied adults between ages 19 and 64 by January 1, 2027. Medically frail individuals, pregnant women, and those receiving disability benefits are exempt from these requirements.

Healthy Michigan Plan (Michigan Medicaid) income limits by household size (2026)

The 2026 Healthy Michigan Plan income guidelines below are based on the 2026 Federal Poverty Level for the 48 contiguous states. Adult column = Healthy Michigan Plan expansion group (138% FPL, covers adults ages 19 to 64 with or without dependent children). Children column = standard Michigan Medicaid U-19 (160% FPL for children under age 19). Pregnancy column = Michigan Medicaid for pregnant women (200% FPL), with 12 months of postpartum coverage. Add roughly $5,680 of annual income per additional household member.

Healthy Michigan Plan (Michigan Medicaid) eligibility requirements (non-income)

Beyond income, Healthy Michigan Plan and other Michigan Medicaid applicants must meet the following non-income requirements. These apply across MAGI categories (HMP adults, pregnant women, children). Aged, blind, and disabled (ABD) Medicaid and long-term care programs carry additional SSI-based rules and asset tests, described where relevant.

• Michigan residency: the applicant must currently reside in Michigan with intent to remain. No minimum length-of-residence is required under federal MAGI rules. Applicants who are temporarily out of state for school or medical care may still qualify as Michigan residents if Michigan is their primary home.
• Age: the Healthy Michigan Plan covers non-pregnant adults ages 19 to 64. Children from birth through age 18 are covered under standard Michigan Medicaid (U-19 Medicaid) or MIChild CHIP. Adults age 65 and older, and disabled adults under 65 who receive Medicare, are covered under aged/blind/disabled Medicaid or Medicare Savings Programs.
• U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, and certain other qualified immigration statuses are eligible. Lawful permanent residents are subject to a federal 5-year bar in most cases. Pregnant women and children are exempt from the 5-year bar under federal CHIPRA rules. Undocumented adults do not qualify for the Healthy Michigan Plan but may receive emergency Medicaid for life-threatening conditions and labor and delivery.
• Social Security Number: all household members applying for coverage must provide an SSN or documentation showing they have applied for one. Applicants who cannot provide an SSN may still apply on behalf of eligible household members who have SSNs.
• Household composition under MAGI rules: the MAGI household includes the applicant, their spouse (if living together), and their tax dependents. For children applying, the household includes the child and the parents or caretaker relatives residing in the home. MAGI rules do not count roommates, boarders, or adult children who file their own taxes as part of the household.
• Asset test: NO asset test applies for MAGI categories (Healthy Michigan Plan adults, pregnant women, children under 19). Asset tests DO apply for aged, blind, and disabled Medicaid: $2,000 for a single individual and $3,000 for a married couple, with the primary home, one vehicle, and designated burial funds excluded from the count. Michigan Medicaid long-term care programs use a 60-month lookback period for asset transfers made below fair market value.
• Work and community engagement requirements (effective January 1, 2027, not in effect for 2026): a new federal mandate in the 2025 reconciliation law will require able-bodied Healthy Michigan Plan adults ages 19 to 64 to demonstrate at least 80 hours per month of work, education, job training, or community service beginning January 1, 2027. Medically frail individuals, pregnant women, primary caregivers of children under 6, full-time students, and recipients of disability-related benefits are exempt.

What income counts for Healthy Michigan Plan (Michigan Medicaid)

The Healthy Michigan Plan uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules to measure household income for adults, pregnant women, and children's Medicaid categories. MAGI income is based on the household's projected annual income for the current calendar year, similar to the income reported on a federal tax return. Michigan applies the standard federal 5% income disregard, which effectively raises the posted threshold by about 5 percentage points. Aged, blind, and disabled Medicaid and long-term care programs use SSI countable-income rules instead of MAGI, which differ significantly.

Income sources included

• Wages, salaries, tips, and overtime pay (gross amount, before payroll taxes or pre-tax deductions such as health insurance premiums or 401(k) contributions)
• Net self-employment income, freelance earnings, and gig-economy income (gross revenue minus allowable business expenses, as reported on Schedule C or Schedule SE of the federal tax return)
• Social Security retirement and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) benefits. Note: SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is NOT counted, as described in the excluded list below.
• Unemployment compensation (state unemployment insurance payments are fully counted as MAGI income in the year received)
• Pensions, retirement account distributions (traditional IRA and 401(k) withdrawals are counted in full when distributed), and annuity income
• Investment income including interest, dividends, capital gains, and rental income from real property
• Alimony received under divorce decrees finalized before January 1, 2019 (post-2018 alimony is excluded under TCJA changes to federal tax law and therefore excluded from MAGI)
• Foreign earned income that is excluded from federal taxable income under the IRS foreign earned income exclusion is still counted under MAGI rules for Medicaid eligibility

Income sources excluded

• SSI (Supplemental Security Income): SSI payments are not counted as MAGI income. This matters because SSI recipients are typically enrolled in Michigan Medicaid automatically through a separate SSI-linked eligibility pathway.
• Child support payments received by the household (not counted as MAGI income under federal Medicaid rules)
• Veterans' benefits including VA disability compensation, GI Bill education benefits, and Veterans Pension payments
• Workers' compensation benefits received for a work-related injury or illness
• TANF cash assistance and other means-tested public assistance payments (not counted as MAGI income)
• Gifts, inheritances, lottery winnings received as a lump sum in a prior year, and loan proceeds are generally not counted as recurring MAGI income

How to apply for Healthy Michigan Plan (Michigan Medicaid) in Michigan

Healthy Michigan Plan and Michigan Medicaid applications are submitted through MI Bridges, the state's unified online benefits portal operated by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). MI Bridges handles applications for the Healthy Michigan Plan, standard Medicaid, MIChild CHIP, SNAP, Family Independence Program (FIP) cash assistance, and child care in a single application. Applications are available online at newmibridges.michigan.gov, by paper using MDHHS form 1171, or in person at any county MDHHS office. Phone assistance is available at 1-855-275-6424.

1. 1. Gather your documents: photo ID or other identity verification, Social Security Numbers for all household members seeking coverage, proof of Michigan residency, and proof of all household income (pay stubs, self-employment records, award letters for Social Security or pension income).
2. 2. Create a MiLogin account at newmibridges.michigan.gov or use an existing MiLogin credential. MI Bridges requires MiLogin for online account access. Alternatively, apply by calling 1-855-275-6424 or visiting your county MDHHS office in person.
3. 3. Complete the application: report every household member, all sources and amounts of income, and any other health coverage currently in force. If you are applying for multiple programs (Medicaid plus SNAP, for example), MI Bridges handles all in one submission.
4. 4. Upload or mail your verification documents. MI Bridges allows photograph or scan uploads directly through the portal. If you are applying by paper, mail the completed MDHHS-1171 form with copies of supporting documents to your local county MDHHS office.
5. 5. Respond promptly to any MDHHS request for additional information. MDHHS will contact you within 10 days for pregnancy applications and within 45 days for standard adult applications if additional information or verification is needed. Failing to respond within the response window is the most common avoidable reason applications are denied.
6. 6. Receive your eligibility determination. MDHHS mails a notice of determination (approval or denial with reason). Approved applicants receive a Michigan Medicaid ID card and information on selecting a Managed Care Plan within 30 days. Michigan contracts with several Medicaid managed care organizations statewide.

Official portal: newmibridges.michigan.gov (MI Bridges)

Documents needed

• Photo ID for the head of household (Michigan driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or other acceptable government-issued photo ID)
• Social Security Numbers (or proof of application for an SSN) for every household member applying for Medicaid coverage
• Proof of Michigan residency: current utility bill, lease or rental agreement, mortgage statement, or official mail from a government agency showing the applicant's Michigan address
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status: birth certificate, U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, permanent resident card (green card), or immigration documentation as applicable
• Income verification: last 30 days of pay stubs for wages; for self-employment, 12 months of business records or the most recent federal tax return with Schedule C; award letters for Social Security, pension, or other benefit income
• For pregnancy applications: medical documentation confirming pregnancy from a licensed health care provider (physician's statement or prenatal care record)

Processing timeline: Standard Healthy Michigan Plan and adult Medicaid applications are processed within 45 days. Pregnancy and children's Medicaid applications receive expedited processing and are decided within 10 days under federal rules. Disability-related Medicaid applications that require a medical determination can take up to 90 days. Applicants who are determined retroactively eligible may receive coverage backdated up to 3 months before the application date under certain circumstances.

Common reasons applications get denied

• Household income exceeds the applicable program threshold (most common single reason for denial; income slightly above 138% FPL for Healthy Michigan Plan adults, or above 160% FPL for children's Medicaid)
• Failure to respond to MDHHS's request for additional verification within the required response window (10 days for pregnancy and children; 45 days for adults); applications are denied as incomplete when the window closes
• Unable to verify Michigan residency: applicant's address documentation does not match the application, or applicant has no utility bill, lease, or official mail showing their Michigan address
• Immigration status not verifiable or does not qualify (federal 5-year bar for lawful permanent residents who have been in the U.S. fewer than 5 years, except for pregnant women and children)
• Other comprehensive health insurance detected (Medicaid has a payer-of-last-resort rule; some applicants are denied because MDHHS determines available employer coverage is cost-effective and must be used first, though this rule applies differently for the Healthy Michigan Plan than for other Medicaid categories)

If your child's family income is over the Michigan Medicaid limit for children

Michigan Medicaid covers children under age 19 up to 160% FPL. If your child's family income is above that limit but below 212% FPL, Michigan's CHIP program, MIChild, may cover your child for a flat premium of $10 per family per month regardless of household size or number of children enrolled. MIChild is administered by MDHHS and delivers benefits through the same managed care plans as Michigan Medicaid. Children enrolled in MIChild receive comprehensive health coverage including doctor visits, prescription drugs, mental health services, dental, and vision. Apply for MIChild through MI Bridges at newmibridges.michigan.gov using the same application as standard Medicaid. The national Medicaid income limits comparison page shows how Michigan's combined Medicaid and CHIP children's threshold compares to all 50 states.

Compare CHIP and Medicaid children's income limits across all 50 states

If you are 65 or older or disabled with limited income: Michigan Medicare Savings Programs

Michigan runs three Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, administered by MDHHS. The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program covers Medicare Part A and B premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for individuals with monthly income up to $1,325 or married couples up to $1,783 in 2026. The Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) program covers the Part B premium only for individuals with monthly income from the QMB limit up to $1,585 ($2,135 for couples). The Qualifying Individual (QI) program covers the Part B premium for individuals with monthly income between the SLMB limit and approximately $1,731 ($2,326 for couples). All three programs also carry asset limits of $9,660 for individuals and $14,470 for couples (2026 federal standards). Michigan residents who qualify as dual-eligibles (eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid) receive coordinated coverage with Medicare as primary payer and Medicaid as secondary. Apply through MI Bridges at newmibridges.michigan.gov or call MDHHS at 1-855-275-6424.

Read the Medicare eligibility guide for low-income beneficiaries

Frequently Asked Questions